Heroes:
EVERYBODY ON THIS FLYER!!!
CREW LOVE SPRING 2007 REVIEWS
Party like a Rebel by Malone, Street Legends Magazine
I was downtown Atl and a Sistah with some long locks {Taj Anwar} hit me with a colorful flier, that had a bunch of logos with the headline reading "Crew Love". I flipped the advertisement over and realized it was a joint being sponsored by The FTP Movement and MOBB. On the real it kind of threw me off at first because some of them FTP cats are my folks and that party shit doesn't seem to be their M.O. The Brotha Kalonji is on some Community Activism/Rebel Sh*t and I have never seen him up in a club. Never the less, I f*cks with FTP, so I decided to pause to support the cause.
Not knowing what to expect, I arrive at Club Django around midnight and the spot was jumpin'. I mean some real cool sh*t! I walk in and the Notorious Beat-box King, Dres the Beatnik, the evenings host is announcing Atlanta Underground Hip Hop Legend's The Liuns Den and they proceed to rip the mic on the main floor in front of a capacity filled crowd. There was a DJ spinnin' on the top floor which seemed to be a semi-VIP chill spot and on the lower level there were at least 5 different top selectors tag-teamin' on the wheels. Making my way thru the crowd of some of Hotlanta's finest Chocolate Wonders, I bump into one of XXL Magazine's Eye Candy features, alongside several of America's foremost video vixens. All the makings of an Industry Party, some of the folks in attendance included D4L, Disturbing Tha Peace, Irv Gotti and The Inc. Easily one of the best parties I attended in 2007, Crew Love was the perfect title. Straight up Grown Folk party without the ice grills. Make no mistakes about it, if there is another Crew Love, you could meet me at the Bar. Patron on you.
Who knew activism could be fun? Let taj "Ms. Red" anwar and Ree De La Vega of Crew Love show you how. By Matt Redd for Activism Magazine
taj anwar and Ree De La Vega is an interesting combo.
REE DE LA VEGA (LEFT) TAJ ANWAR (MIDDLE)
W/ IAN FORD W/ TASTE EMCEES
Ree of Bang Bang has made her name in the city as promoting fresh kid parties in the downtown district. She's known for her crazy, sexy, cool demeanor. She IS Bang Bang- the commander in chief of the crew of hotties. While most of them appear to be partying and taking pictures, Ree is chopping it up with major players of the party scene and making a name for herself as a businesswoman. You can't help but notice the fact that every time she pulls out a cigarette that men are lined up to light it for her. Her dark mane commands attention from anyone passing by. She's that dope.
taj is the founder and director of Mothers of Black/Brown Babies and one of the right hands to the widely known and respected activist Kalonji "Chief" Jama Changa of the FTP Movement is a feisty yet sensitive thug. As quick as she'll curse you out for being lame, she will turn around and give your drunk ass cab fare to get home. An elder dubbed her "Red," because the blood of the community runs through her veins- passion personified. Her long dreadlocks almost hang below her knees, and she's hella educated- recently earning her doctorate. It gives taj (it's not a typo- she insists that her name be in lower case- she say's she' not important, her work is) the disposition of a hood goddess, and angel of the streets. The streets know her to hang out in the club as well as feed the homeless in her gold teeth, tight jeans and dunks at 10 AM every Sunday. She's that dope.
Ree and taj represent what Andre 3000 was talking about in his song "The Prototype." These businesswomen are serious and giving the streets THA BIZNESS. They are real hip- hop heads from different sides of the tracks, yet on the same team like a new millennium Salt & Pepa.
Crew Love was conceptualized by taj anwar, and she brought in Ree to add on. It was based on the premise that a lot of crews in the A do not get along, but they all get down with Ree and taj. The underground hip hop community has been longtime supporters M.O.B.B., and they saw it as a cool way to help out. People such as Mr. Mind and Variable of Audubon Society, DJ Prince Presto, DJ Mafioso, Thought and Deep Closet, Fruit and Sole Munki, Fadia Kader, Ian Ford of Rebelutions, ATF Records' Collective Efforts and Psyche Origami, Dre' Almighty of Lavish Life Social Club and many others stepped up to help out.
CRISTO, DJ PRINCE PRESTO & DJ MAFIOSO
D.R.E.S. Tha Beatnik aka the Voice of Atlanta was on deck to host. The ATL veteran holds church every time he steps on the stage.
D.R.E.S. THA BEATNIK, HOST
First up, Khalilah Ali of the others (Thomas Bess, Jr. and Adonis). She is like a sexy unsigned hype. Not just sexy for her look- but her mic control and flow are incredible. She did not miss a beat and she commanded everyone's attention. She dropped socially relevant songs like "Prisoner's Wife," a song about the emotional perils of prison as well as the autobiographical "Live How I Wanna Live." This mother of two is the best of what hip- hop has to offer but has yet to sample. Great things in the future for this woman. Like her M.O.B.B. sisteren taj, she too has earned a doctorate.
KHALILAH ALI
Next up, the Long Island, New York transplants the L.I.U.N.S. Den. This group has been compared to Wu- Tang, but they have something that made the Wu as grimy as they were- but lost after they gained popularity- the hunger. The L.I.U.N.S. may not have the platinum status of the Wu, but they have several album projects under their belts that have gone platinum in the hood. The presence of Ekundayo aka Mounten Liun commands the set. His current project "Get Right or Get Left" was the focus of the night- clearly. His single "All I Know" caused the crowd to sing along in an frenzy. If you were not current on the hit singles on Billboard, you would have thought this song was at platinum status. Thunda and Luz Wed rose the occasion with exceptional flow. The L.I.U.N.S. then offered their comrade Jus Blak- who was recently released from a jail stint blessed the crowd with a welcomed freestyle. As soon as Jus grabbed the mic, it was like the crowd had Turret's, because all you heard was "FIRE!"- Which represents their promotions company, Firestarters.
L.I.U.N.S. DEN
On deck now is the Taste Emcees out of Milwaukee. DJ Stretch, G. Murray and Viva Fidel blessed the mic with their Midwest slang. Viva Fidel, a well respected and award winning community organizer, teacher and filmmaker has the stance of a general. Dropping socially conscious lyrics, this group is poised to bring conscious music back to the forefront. G. Murray's swagger is hard to ignore. While he is not the oldest of the clan, his demeanor and wisdom leads one to believe he is the elder. It just works, like fish and grits. DJ Stretch's cut style is reminiscent of an era when hip hop was fun. He looked like he was having a good time cutting the records. Imagine that.
TASTE EMCEES
Unxoun Ceeds: B. Price, Babatunde the Griot, Qualm Scott and producer Dat Kush. If they were a box of crayons, the only colors would be red, black and green. Babatunde was sporting and African medallion and dreads were swinging all over the place as they bust out into their into set to Rich Boy's "Throw Some D's"- changing the words to reflect their style: "UNXOUN CEEDS IN THIS BITCH!!!!!!" They all command your attention, Babatunde is like a native chief, B. Price is a seasoned emcee, but perhaps the one who stands out is Qualm Scott, and not for the obvious reason (he's in a wheelchair). This guy is a beast on the mic. I thought he would need oxygen if their set didn't end soon. Buy a beat from Dat Kush- this guy is clearly a monster on the tracks. The track to "Rock had everybody in the crowd dropping to the chant of the chorus.
Protons have to be the coolest brothers in hip hop. So fresh and so clean, and the ladies love them. They only did two songs, "What's Up Now" and "Good Guys"- but they gave the crowd some newness with their remix to "Good Guys." Local hip hop great Gripplyaz danced around the stage as Proton dripped their swag all over the stage. Quality and Friday make hip hop so cool. And they prove that you don't have to sing corny tales about falling in love with strippers to get the attention of the ladies. "Throw your P's up" could mean a couple of things. "P" is for Proton, but for some of the girls who were commenting on their good looks, it could stand for panties. Oh boy!
PROTON
The party was documented through photo and video by Vaunghn Saber and Lee Boi. The DVD is a well put together product that party goers would be pleased with. The Crew Love pictures represent what is good about hip- hop, love for your crew. You can tell that it was a good time had by all. Crew Love images, DVD and t-shirts are available for sale at www.myspace.com/crew_love or www.crewlove.org . Proceeds of the merchandise and show go to support the programs of Mothers of Black/Brown Babies ( www.myspace.com/mobbin or www.mobbb.org . I understand that taj printed and pressed the t- shirts herself.
In all honesty, Crew Love was one of the best parties I have attended. Where people could be stars in their own right. Some notable attendees were XXL Eye Candy models, Irv Gotti and The Inc., D4L, New Jeru Entertainment and Disturbing The Peace just to name a few.
taj + Ree X Crew Love= Real Hip Hop. Show Crew Love some love, because if not for an other reason, you got to love taj & Ree. Swagalicious.
